FOLLAND Sports boss Dave Lewis praised an “outstanding” performance by referee Tom Moisey after a 3-1 Sydenhams Premier victory over Alresford.

He felt the Park Gate official’s handling of proceedings was spot on.

“I’m the first to say when a referee’s not had a good game, but this one had a real good way about him,” said Lewis.

“There was an incident early on between Ryan Long and one of their players, but the ref controlled the situation and just spoke to them rather being card happy.

“It’s a real tough job because he could have let it go and, had the game exploded, he would have been criticised. But he went with his instinct and his general decision-making was really good.

“The players didn’t try to con him because they knew they wouldn’t get away with it.

“It meant we had a good game of football that was all about the players rather than the officials and managers.”

Alresford, still needing a few points to be mathematically safe from relegation, took a 28th-minute lead when John Mulhern was floored by James Roden in the box and got up to net the penalty.

Follands levelled on 39 minutes thanks to some outstanding control from Richard Gregory who, with scant room to operate, brought the ball down with his chest, flicked it off his thigh and knocked it over advancing ’keeper Danny Leeds.

After a quiet start to the second half, Alresford raised the stakes on 79 minutes with sub Andy Turner rattling thebar and Tom Donaldson having another penalty shout turned down.

That brought the best out of the Planemakers as two quality Ashley Jarvis strikes bagged them the points.

First Jarvis polished off a fine team move, darting down the left channel and reverse-kicking the ball in with his right foot.

Then, with just four minutes remaining, he arrowed a ferocious shot in from 25 yards.

“All three goals had a touch of class about them,” said Lewis. “Our players were saying ‘great goal’ from the moment Ashley hit his second one. It was a rocket.”

Having had Calum Brockway, Wayne Boud and Roden sent off in their last handful of games, it made a pleasant change for Follands to finish with 11 men.

“I’m the manager and if the players are going out on the pitch with a lack of discipline, I take responsibility,” said Lewis.

“We showed a lot of character. We’ve had two tough games recently against a decent Alresford side and have come back each time from a goal down.”